Free My Library Experience In Researching For The Topic Of Racism Research Paper Sample

Overall my online research on the UM-Flint library was worthwhile and fulfilling. Using y log-in information, I was able to access numerous journal repositories, books, articles, and other information sources. The university website had all the resources that I needed to learn what I wanted to learn about my topic. The easy to understand icons and words in the website makes it user friendly. It should be noted that the topic that I chose to research on was racism. In order to make my research experience more meaningful, I had to organize my ideas first and determine the key words that I needed to input on the website’s search box.

Discussion

The first thing that I wanted to learn about my topic was the reasons behind racism, or the justifications for racism. It seems to me that a person with a good heart will not indulge in racism, so it was puzzling for me why it exists. I was able to find the book entitled “Racism” by Albert Memmi (2000). According to him, racists tend to set either imaginary or real characteristics to the target race, and then they use these characteristics to compare them with their own race. They then use the differences as justification for racism.
The next question that I had in mind was, if racism is still rampant today and in what ways does it happen. With this question in mind I was able to come across the work of Leonard Harris (1999). The reference explains the different forms of racism in the modern world, as well as the reasons why it exists. Just like Memmi, Harris explains that there are many institutions today that focus on the differences over similarities of people, such as the media institutions. This is why people today tend to treat other races differently compared to their own race. An interesting point raised by Harris is that National Identity is usually founded upon racialization.
I then became interested on how to solve the problem of racism or if there is indeed a solution to it. I came across the book entitled, “Racism” written by Bulmer & Solomos (1999) in trying to answer my question. The authors of the said book explained that even the 20th century, when the people re considered to be more civilized, the extent of racism has actually intensified, and there is no sign that it will ever stop, unless each person starts to focus on our similarities over our differences.

Conclusion

Online libraries such as the UM-Flint library are very helpful tools in doing research. I have proven this when I researched on the topic of racism. There were three main references found using the said library. I have learned many things about my topic, but the main point or conclusion that I could arrived at in my research is that racism starts at the individual level. When the individual starts thinking or how different other people are to him or her, that individual is becoming a racist. The problem of racism can also be solved at the individual level. Each of us must appreciate our uniqueness rather than hate others because they are different from us. We must also focus on our similarities.

References

Bulmer, M. and Solomos, J. (1999). Racism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Harris, L. (1999). Racism: Key Concepts in Critical Theory. US: Humanity Books.
Memmi, A. (2000). Racism. Minnesota: University of Minnesota Press.